The Premier League action continues on Sunday afternoon when Everton play host to West Ham at Goodison Park in what could be termed as an early relegation battle despite the English top flight still being in its infancy, with both teams having played just six games so far this term.
Nevertheless, Everton once again find themselves in familiar territory as The Toffees sit in a lowly 16th place in the Premier League standings and are only above the relegation zone by virtue of possessing a slightly better goal difference.
📸 | Full focus on #EVEWHU.— Everton (@Everton) September 15, 2022
📸 | Full focus on #EVEWHU.
Everton manager, Frank Lampard, is once again under early pressure for his team to perform.
The hosts have still yet to register their first win of the season (either home or away) and they started the season losing their opening two games in defeats to Chelsea and Aston Villa.
The Toffees have since picked up points in four draws on the trot with stalemates against Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Leeds United and Liverpool, the latter being a 0-0 draw in the merseyside derby.
Everton keeper, Jordan Pickford is ruled out with a thigh injury while the hosts will also be without Townsend, Godfrey, Holgate and Yerry Mina but Calvert-Lewin and Doucoure are hoping to pass late fitness tests.
West Ham secured an unconvincing 3-2 win away at Danish outfit Silkeborg, in their Europa Conference League clash on Thursday night.
They’ll be hoping to transfer their European form into the domestic flight on Sunday up in merseyside when they take on an equally floundering Everton outfit.
With just one win to date so far this season, West Ham find themselves in the early relegation places in the Premier League, sitting third from bottom but The Hammers are level on points with their Sunday’s hosts having also picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at home with Tottenham.
West Ham have also found league wins hard to come by though for some time now as David Moyes’ side have managed to capture just two wins from their previous 13 matches overall in the top flight which incidentally were both away from home - wins at Norwich City 4-0 and Aston Villa 1-0 though, have been dwarfed by eight defeats on the road.
West Ham are expected to be missing defensive duo Aguerd and Johnson with injuries but otherwise, Moyes has a full squad to pick from.
Given their poor results away from home, The Hammers may therefore be happy to settle for a point apiece on Sunday against Everton.